Bhopal:
With Madhya Pradesh Police still struggling to find leads in the murder case of Right to Information activist Shehla Masood, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will now take over the investigation.
Ms Masood was shot in the head in her car in front of her residence in the posh Koh-e-Fiza locality in Bhopal at about 11 am on August 16. She was just about to head to a rally that was part of Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption.
Bhopal Police says phone records show that on the day she was shot, Ms Masood spoke to BJP Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesman Tarun Vijay. A senior Bhopal Police officer said they would send a team to question Mr Vijay in Delhi. The officer however added that Mr Vijay was just one among people who knew Ms Masood and who were being questioned.
Yesterday, Mr Vijay described Shehla as "a friend, a brave RTI activist" and said he had talked to her on the morning of August 16, also the day Gandhian activist Anna Hazare started his fast in Delhi. Mr Vijay said they talked about Anna's campaign.
Mr Vijay said he was shocked at hearing about Ms Masood's murder. "We firmly stand by her family...the culprit should be booked and hanged," he said, promising all help to the police in investigations, emphasising that being among those to be questioned did not make him a suspect.
The Madhya Pradesh government had asked for a CBI inquiry to determine who murdered Ms Masood.
Commenting on the case, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, ''The manner in which Shehla Masood was killed is truly terrifying. She was killed in broad daylight in an area where many VIPs live. The matter must be investigated. We've already asked for a CBI probe. The Madhya Pradesh CM and Tarun Vijay must hand the case over to CBI.'' He added, ''In fact, he (Tarun Vijay) should ask for a CBI probe himself.''
Shehla, who sat on a fast here recently in support of Anna Hazare's 'India Against Corruption' campaign, had also been working on a number of other projects, including wildlife conservation. She was actively involved in raising issues related to the deaths of tigers in the various sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh.
She also ran a company called 'Miracles' which used to do various things, including event management. Mr Vijay said her company organised several events for the Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Foundation, which he is closely associated with.